[Previous entry: "Bess the Bonneville"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Friday Five"]

08/01/2002 Entry: "New entry"

There's a new entry up about the car and other things. Thanks for all the advice; I'm not sure we'll be able to do anything, though. I feel really sick about it.

Replies: 3 sandcastles

I agree with the comment about getting a trustyworthy mechanic to look at a used car before buying it (like getting a home inspection before buying a house). But I do think that not all used cars are awful. When I needed a car last year there was no way we could afford another car payment on top of a mortgage and student loan payments. We found a 1985 Escort with very low mileage for $3000; its one owner was an elderly couple who used it mainly to go to church and get groceries. I've had it for 18 months and haven't had a single problem with it yet. And I have fond memories of the 1979 Grand Prix (black with blood-red interior) that my sister and I drove for four years during high school---for $1200, it was quite a deal ; )

Posted by amy @ 08/02/2002 01:24 PM EST

Adding to Tina's comments about a new car... There is still 0% financing around for some of the 2002 models...

My thoughts about buying a used car are - find a mechanic. If you don't know one or have a friend who does, call around and ask if they will do an inspection of a car for you, prior to your buying it - so you have a better idea of the shape of the car. (Ask how much they charge.) Then, make arrangements to bring the car in during a test drive. (The dealer doesn't need to know...) It might cost you a couple of dollars to have it checked out - but it's worth it. And if there's only 'small' things wrong you can use these to barter...

Posted by Tracy @ 08/02/2002 12:23 PM EST

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the dealership is right. If you buy a car "as is", then nothing, absolutely nothing is covered under any kind of warranty. As is basically states that there is no warranty. I had the same problem in buying my first car, a 1989 Hyundai Sonata from a dealership while I was in high school. I bought it "as is", and it had to be jumped from sitting so long just so it would start. I got home okay, but it didn't start up a second time until we put a new battery in it. It also needed a new tire (that slowly went flat a couple days later) and the rack and pinion (power steering) needed to be replaced about 2 months later to the tune of $600+.

The best advice I can give to you is to not even look at older cars - they don't make them as good as they used to - most are not built to last. Any car older than 5 years is going to have problems.

I would get a car loan from your local credit union (they always have better interest rates than the dealer or even a bank) and finance a car you can afford and put the Pontiac as a trade-in.

You might think that you can't afford a car payment, but I think you will find that it will cost you less in the long run. Besides, I wouldn't trust being in an old car if it were to break down somewhere with a baby. Unless you had AAA and a cell phone..

I learned my lesson in buying an older car and I can tell you that buying a newer car not only keeps you from making frequent visits to the mechanic, but you end up being a lot less stressed.

Posted by Tina @ 08/02/2002 12:56 AM EST